Car-coupling



GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 367,128.W Patented July 26,1887.

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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J AMES R. AVERY, OF LOUISVILLE-KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,128, dated -July 26, 1887.

Application tiled April l` 1887.

.To all whom it may concern.'

Be itknown that I, JAMES R. AVERY, a citizen of the Unitedl States, residing at Louisville, in the county ot' Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the .following is a specification. t

This invention relates to carcouplers.

The objects are to uvncouple cars readily without danger to the operator, and in such manner that the coupling-pin will be held out of the pin-hole and in a position ready to fall back into the hole and to engage with a coupling-link when cars come together to be coupled; furthermore, to cause automatic coupling of the cars upon their coming together; and, linally, to strengthen the device and protect the buffer or draft action in my system of car-coupling. Y

The invention consists in a novel device whereby these objects are attained, which will' be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, like letters of refer-v -ence indicate corresponding parts.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the entire device attached to a car, the car being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the coupler-head detached. Fig. 3 is a horizontaly sectional view of the same. Fig. 4. is a detail View v showing the draw-bar detached. Fig. 5 is a P. The coupler-head isprovided with a hollow neck 'or stem, a', formed integral therewith and extending therefrom, through which neck or stem is an opening or channel, a2, which serves for the insertion of a draw-bar, B. The neck or stem of the coupler-head is also provided with a transverse slot, a3, exs

tending through the same and connecting with the longitudinal channel a?.

' The draw-bar B is formed at one end with a square portion, b, the extreme end having lugs extending transversely therefrom, which lugs are adapted to fit against the rear end of the link-cavity during draft action. The surface of the square portion of the draw-bar has cut therein a transverse slot or groove, b', which, when the draw-bar has been placed in position within the coupler-head, will be in line with the transverse slot a, through which slot and groove is then placed a dat bolt, E. This bolt `fits snugly in the groove in the draw-bar and moves therewith,`the slot ai being of sufficient width to allow limited movement of the bolt, occasioned by backward or forward movement of the coupler-head. During forward or draft action of the coupler-head the bolt is drawn against the rearwall of this slot, while during rearward or bufting action of the same it is `forced against its forward wall, the bolt thus limiting the movement ot' the draw-bar and coupler-head, respectively.

Upon the rear portion of the" drawbar is placed -a' crossbar, L, from each side of which extend journals c, having at the inner ends square shoulders c', which shoulders form bearings for the rear ends of guards D, which tit snugly therein, the forward ends of said guards being provided with an elongated slot,

each fitting over the outer extending ends of Y the flat bolt E. lhe guards are held upon the ends of the dat bolt by means of a key, e, at one end, the opposite end of the bolt being turned down at an angle to its length and overlapping the side of the guard. The journals c upon the crossbar extend through bearings in attachment-plates G, secured to the draft- ICO the draw-bar are 'springs S S', interposed, respectively, between the coupler-head A and cross-bar C, and between said cross-bar and rear end of the draw-bar.

rlhe upper portion of the coupling-pin P is bent downward, being about perpendicular to its lower portion, and when in position for operation extends rearward and passes through a loop or eye in the lower end of a vertical operatingrod, L, by means of which the pin maybe withdrawn i'roni the pin-hole of the coupler-head.

The vertical operatingrod L is secured to theend of a car by means of staples Z, its upper end extending above the top of the car and being curved to serve the purpose of a handle. The lower end ofthe rod is bent outward, then downward to forni a loop or eye, Z', through which the horizontal end of the coupling-pin passes, as previouslystated. Ahorizontal rod, M, is also secured to the end ot' the ear, its outer ends extending beyond the sides of the car, being bent toserve as handles for turning. At or near its center is formed a bend or loop, m, which, when the pin is in position within the couplenhead, rests upon the top portion of the piu and between the saine and the lower bent portion of the vertical rod. rlhe hori zontal rod is secured upon the car at suoli point that, while occupying this position, its loop or bend extends obliquely downward, so that when the rod is turned it will raise the vertical rod, and hence the coupling-pin, to proper position for coupling. It is necessary when the pin is raised to this point that it should there be held ready to be released by the force of the coming together of the ears. For this purpose l provide an automatic rest, R, pivoted to the end of the car, and of such length that when the rod and pin have been raised to their full height the rest will fall in place beneath the bend of the Vertical rod, resting against the end of the horizontal portion of the coupliugpin. Thus the rest will support the vertical rod, and consequently keep the coupling-pin above the piu-hole, ready to be dropped in place for coupling.

When the coupling-pin and its attendant parts are thus set and a car is brought into contact therewith for thepurpose of coupling, the force of the blow causes the coupler-head to be forced rearward, and the coupling-pinis carried back with it, the end ofthe horizontal portion strikes against the rest and pushes it from beneath the vertical rod, allowing it to fall and the coupling-pin to fall into the pinhole through thc link, and thus automatically couple the cars'.

It is obvious that in a device thus constructed, the coupling-pin may be set in position for coupling by a person upon the top or at either side of a car, the force of the ears coming to gether causing the pin to drop in place automatically and without other aid.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isM

l. In a cancoupler, a cross-bar having projections forming trunnions extending from it,

said projections having shoulders for the attachment of guards,substantially as described.

2. In a ear-coupling, a cross-bar in combination with guards connecting it with a coupler-head or l'ront end of a draw-bar, substan tially as and for thc purpose specified.

3. In a ear-coupler, guards, or equivalents, connecting a cross-bar with a coupler-head or draw-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4.. In a carroupler, attacln11ent] )lates having transverse grooves or recesses in their edges forming bearings for lugs and erossAbars, either or both connecting the draft-timbers or secured thereto by rods to prevent the spreading and splitting of said timbers, substantially as speeiiied.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of a coupler-head having a transverse slot through its stem, a draw-bar provided with a slot or suitable recess, a cross-bar having projections and slotted lateral guard or guards, a bolt passing through the slots in the guards and through the slot inthe draw-head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. ln a ear-coupling, the combination of a coupler-head having a transverse slot through its stein, a draw-bar provided wit-h a slot or recess, a cross-bar having projections slotted or otherwise, suitably-constructed guard or guards, a bolt passing through the slots in the guards and coupler-head and engaged by the slot or recess in the draw-bar, a spring placed upon the draw-bar between the coupler-head and cross bar, and another spring bearing against the rear side of the cross-bar, all combined and arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose specified.

7. In a carcoupler, an angled pin, in coinbination with a coupler-head and gravitylatch, whereby when withdrawn from the linkcavity one end ot' the pin remains suspended in the pin-hole of the coupler-head, while the other end extends rearward a suiiieient distance to disengagc itself by striking and forcing back the device supporting it, substantially as specified.

In a car-coupler, the combination,with an angled pin, a vertical rod adapted to be fastened to the end ot' a car, the upper end ofthe rod being bent to serve as a handle, its lower end being bent outward and downward to form a shoulder, and its lower end also having a loop formed thereon through which the upper end of the coupling-pin passes, substantially as shown.

9. In a car-coupling, the combination of a coupling-pin having a bent upper portion, a vertical rod bent at its lower end to form a shoulder, and having a loop formed upon its lower bent end, through which the upper portion of the coupling-pin passes, and ahorizontal rod having handles formed thereon, and provided with a loop or bend at or near its een ter for engagement with the bent portion ofthe vertical rod, whereby movement of the horizontal rod will cause the vertical rod to be raised,and thus remove the pin from the pinhole in the draw-head, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a car-coupler, a gravity-rest pivoted to the end of the car, in combination with a bent rod and angled pin, the rest engaging the coupling-pin when withdrawn from the pinhole, but theouter end of the pin being in close proximity to said rest7 so that the force imparted by the coming together of the couplers forces the rest back and releases the pin, substantially as specified. v

l1. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the coupling-pin,4 of the vertical rod for raising the coupling-pin out of the pin-hole, a

horizontal rod having a loop bearing against the under side of the bent portion of the verv tical rod for the purpose of raising the rod'and thus withdrawing the pin from the pin-hole, and a rest pivoted upon the ear at one end, its opposite end adapted to drop beneath a portion of the vertical rod to support the rod and thus hold the pin out of the pin-hole, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In combination with aoar, journal bear ing-plates attached thereto7 a cross-bar pivoted therein, draft-rods connecting the crossthe cross-bar connecting it with the front end -of the draw-bar in the coupler-head by means of a bolt therein, a spring interposed between the coupler-head and cross-bar, and a spring interposed between the cross-bar and a washer or other abutment impinged against a key in the draw-bar near its rear end, all substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

13. In combination with a car and coupler,

a gravitating rest pivoted to the end of the car, a vertical rod adjusted to engage with said rest, a horizontal rod adjusted to engage with said vertical rod, a coupling-pin angled toengage a link in the cavity of thecoupler-head of the coupler with its lower end,and the verp tical rod with its upper end, substantially as shown7 for the purpose specified.

j JAMES R. AVERY. Witnesses:

J. H. MANsER, JAMES T. A. BAKER. 

